Grade: B | Genre: Reality Summary: New York proved a solid audition stop on the tour thus far. There were plenty of outrageous characters and a few gems that could make a serious run for the crown. Season 6 of American Idol is off to a rousing start. After slogging through the waste of four cities, we have truly seen some of the worst excuses of talent that America has to offer. You'd think a friend, family member, or concerned pet would pull these poor souls aside and gingerly tell them that they have no talent. Its only right to put these suckers out of their misery in the privacy of their own lives rather than allow them to put their warbled voice on display as the world cringes. We tune in week after week to watch this collective train wreck unfold that leaves a litter of American Idol wannabes in its wake. So far, we have encountered a girl who was under the impression that she was the cowardly lion of Oz. We've seen the most hilarious rendition of the "Don't Cha" ever caught on film. We've even seen Simon scrap any form of political correctness, calling a guy a bug-eyed jungle creature. What other avenues of fun can we expect as the traveling circus settles on the Big Apple? Wednesday night's episode showed that the land of Broadway and crazy cabbies isn't immune to painful Idol auditions.

Carol Bayer Sager served as guest judge for this two-day stint. What point do these celebrity judges serve anyway? None of them really provide any true insight or takes the hard-line against the other judges. They seem to just ride the tide of decision Simon, Paula and Randy set forth. So the episode starts with glamour puss Ian. I feel sorry for anyone that actually has to share space with this pompous windbag in real life. This flaming diva is a So You Think You Can Dance reject that decided maybe singing was more his thing. The fruitcake uttered some strange, rapid, spoken-word version of "Gloria." His inevitable boot was met with seething hostility to all involved to the point where he had to be ejected from the room. New York is off to a great start. Next, we had teenage runaway Sarah trying out for Idol while disappearing from her parents gaze in Ohio for a couple of days. She sang an interesting take on Blondie's "Call Me" that opened the hearts and minds of the judges. Her acceptance issued an emotional meltdown about her father that was in dire need of a psychiatrist couch. Actually a full-time Idol traveling shrink could probably work wonders for this motley crew of contestants.

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Day two started minus Simon, and was it ever apparent. The edge was gone from these cupcake judges. The ever-lenient Paula and no backbone Carol let pretty boy Jenry slide through completely on looks and confidence. Simon isn't cruel and heartless -- he's reality. The majority of these people come in thinking they are the best things since sliced bread, and he bitch slaps them down to earth. If they can't take harsh criticism at this stage of the game, they need to stay away from the soul shredder that is Hollywood.

Pint-sized spark plug Nakia rose the spirits of the room with "Dancing in the Streets," but when she was asked to switch gears to a slower number, her voice was crackling like Rice Crispies. You wanted someone to please catapult her through the door as she stomped on her last vestiges of dignity. Simon was back just in time to see Sarah's unique approach to the competition. She was totally tone deaf and walked through the door knowing it. She wanted to be the first American Idol who couldn't sing. What? Are you smoking crack? This is a singing competition you whack job. Quit wasting everyone's time with your Bizarro logic, and let the nice men in white coats take you back to the crazy farm. Antonio continued the bleeding with his Sinatra look/sound-alike persona. Strangely, Sinatra never sang "New Your, New Your" to my knowledge.

Jory certainly lit up Simon's bulb with her looks. She had a pretty voice, wrapping it around "Chains" to get her through to the next round. She doesn't have that pop to make her a true contender though. Porcelana pulled the wool over the judge's eyes with her Shakira style over substance routine. She deserved to get left in New York. Christopher didn't win over too many fans with his womanly voice, but Paula was ready to draw blood over Simon's usual snide comments. Art girl Rachel tried to come in here and sing Jeff Buckley's "Eternal Life." You don't sing Jeff Buckley in an American Idol audition. That's sacrilege. She threw up three bite-sized song snippets that all sounded like she carbon copied her vocals from the artist in question. She didn't seem to own a voice of her own. She was another lucky soul that got through that should have been a one and out. Chris was nothing special with his JT looks and ordinary voice taking on "Song for You", yet his fate was the same as undeserving contestants like Rachel and Porcelana. Maybe they were trying to meet quota or something.

Past Idol contestant Nicholas who fumbled "Buttercup" in the group competition brought his nice mature pipes back for another try and got his second shot at stardom. The episode wrapped with Isodora. This street musician had all the judges saying, "what the f@$k!" She had the personification of a mental breakdown in song onstage. When asked how her singing is usually received, she said that it has, at times, landed her in jail. Maybe it's just me, but if I got arrested for singing, I think I'd search out another calling in life?

New York proved a solid audition stop on the tour thus far. There were plenty of outrageous characters and a few gems that could make a serious run for the crown. Enjoy it while you can because once the auditions are through the real fun of Idol is deflated. Next up, Taylor's hometown Birmingham. Bring out the trailer trash.